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Third Session - Thirty-Seventh Legislature of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba DEBATES and PROCEEDINGS Official Report (Hansard) Published under the authority of The Honourable George Hickes Speaker Vol. LII No. 16B - 1:30 p.m., Thursday, December 6, 2001 ISSN 0542-5492 MANITOBA LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Thirty-Seventh Legislature Member Constituency Political Affiliation AGLUGUB, Cris The Maples N.D.P. ALLAN, Nancy St. Vital N.D.P. ASHTON, Steve, Hon. Thompson N.D.P. ASPER, Linda Riel N.D.P. BARRETI, Becky, Hon. Inkster N.D.P. CALDWELL, Drew, Hon. Brandon East N.D.P. CERILLI, Marianne Radisson N.D.P. CHOMIAK, Dave,Hon. Kildonan N.D.P. CUMMINGS,Glen Ste. Rose P.C. DACQUAY, Louise Seine River P.C. DERKACH,Leonard Russell P.C. DEWAR, Gregory Selkirk N.D.P. DOER, Gary, Hon. Concordia N.D.P. DRIEDGER, Myrna Charles wood P.C. DYCK,Peter Pembina P.C. ENNS. Harry Lakeside P.C. FAURSCHOU, David Portage Ia Prairie P.C. FRIESEN,Jean, Hon. Wolseley N.D.P. GERRARD,Jon, Hon. River Heights Lib. GILLESHAMMER, Harold Minnedosa P.C. HELWER, Edward Gimli P.C. HICKES,George Point Douglas N.D.P. JENNISSEN, Gerard Flin Flon N.D.P. KORZENIOWSKI, Bonnie St. James N.D.P. LATHLIN, Oscar, Hon. The Pas N.D.P. LAURENDEAU, Marcel St. Norbert P.C. LEMIEUX, Ron, Hon. La Verendrye N.D.P. LOEWEN,John Fort Whyte P.C. MACKINTOSH, Gord, Hon. St. Johns N.D.P. MAGUIRE, Larry Arthur-Virden P.C. MALOWAY,Jim Elmwood N.D.P. MARTINDALE, Doug Burrows N.D.P. McGIFFORD,Diane, Hon. Lord Roberts N.D.P. MIHYCHUK, MaryAnn, Hon. Minto N.D.P. MITCHELSON, Bonnie River East P.C. MURRAY, Stuart Kirkfield Park P.C. NEVAKSHONOFF, Tom Interlake N.D.P. PENNER,Jack Emerson P.C. PENNER,Jim Steinbach P.C. PITURA, Frank Morris P.C. PRAZNIK,Darren Lac du Bonnet P.C. REID, Daryl Transcona N.D.P. REIMER,Jack Southdale P.C. ROBINSON, Eric, Hon. Rupertsland N.D.P. ROCAN, Denis Carman P.C RONDEAU, Jim Assiniboia N.D.P. SALE, Tim, Hon. Fort Rouge N.D.P. SANTOS, Conrad Wellington N.D.P. SCHELLENBERG,Harry Rossmere N.D.P. SCHULER, Ron Springfield P.C. SELINGER, Greg, Hon. St. Boniface N.D.P. SMITH,Joy Fort Garry P.C. N.D.P. SMITH, Scott, Hon. Brandon West P.C. STEFANSON, Heather Tuxedo N.D.P. STRUTHERS, Stan Dauphin-Roblin P.C. TWEED, Mervin Turtle Mountain N.D.P. WOWCHUK, Rosano, Hon. Swan River 593 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Thursday, December 6, 2001 The House met at 1:30 p.m. instead his daughter Maude Haviemick bludgeoned to death, one of the 14. I wonder ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS what he was thinking as he drove there, knowing that something horrific had happened at his MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS daughter's school. And when he found her body, what did he think then? We know his instinctive, Violence Against Women desperate desire to tum back the clock. Hon. Diane McGifford (Minister responsible How do parents live after such a death? for the Status of Women): Mr. Speaker, I have Well, Suzanne LaPlante-Edward gave us the a statement for the House. answer. I also think of her today. Her daughter Ann-Marie Edward was murdered along with Mr. Speaker, 12 years ago, on December 6. Maude Haviemick. Suzanne LaPlante-Edward 1989, at l'Ecole polytechnique in Montreal, a found salvation in her struggle to end violence. I heavily armed man murdered 14 women and remember speaking with her a few months after injured 13 other women. In Canada and in her daughter's murder and hearing her passionate Manitoba, his acts on this day have come to resolve to live with grief and not be consumed symbolize violence against women. Each by it. December 6, women and men across Canada meet in our communities in remembrance of I mention Officer Haviemick and Suzanne these women, women murdered in our province, LaPlante-Edward not to upset anyone, but and those other innumerable, often faceless because these two, the grieving parent and the women, who are victims of male violence. fervent activist, are icons, images which tell archetypal stories, stories heavy with truth, This morning, many of us gathered in this especially important today for us politicians. The Legislature and at noon in the Union Centre, and first story is about pain and death and the second this evening people will meet at the Women's of renewal and life. These images, these stories Memorial outside the Legislature, meet in hold the full range of human possibilities and tell remembrance of our sisters and in hope of world me again that all human experiences are vari­ peace. Furthermore, across our province people ation on pain and renewal and testify to our have gathered and will gather, and, by intent and incredible human potential. In reflecting on in spirit, join with us today here profoundly them, I know precisely who I work for and why I saddened by violence and determined, as I said do this work, but equally important I know who earlier today, and here I quote from Shake­ I must work with if we are to become a speare's The Tempest, to create a brave new peace-loving society, a culture where vision and world with such people in it; people determined substance coincide. As John Donne put it, no first to mourn and then to work for change. one is an island entire unto himself. Mr. Speaker, we have met for 12 years now *(13:35) and there is little new to say, but speak we must, especially as politicians, because silence on the In short, we politicians should, or so I subject is both deadly and a disservice to our believe, be guided by the distress and grief of citizens. Today I think particularly of Officer our citizens, and we should join forces with their Haviemick, from the Montreal police force who, vigour, vision and determination. Then we have on December 6, 1989, was sent to l'Ecole poly­ a chance, and here I paraphrase F. Scott technique to investigate the crime, and found Fitzgerald: to run faster, stretch out our arms 594 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA December 6, 2001 further and one fine morning achieve our dream. Having attended this morning's sunrise This is what December 6 is all about: First breakfast and memorial service with members mourn, then work for change. from both sides of this House, I welcome the opportunity to put a few words on the record In closing, I would like to read a proc­ about the Montreal massacre and also Canada's lamation that I signed this morning. I know Day of Remembrance and action on violence members opposite would like to respond, and against women. after that I would appreciate it if you would ask the House to rise in silent remembrance of Mr. Speaker, 12 years have passed since a women victims of male violence. But I take, as senseless act of violence took the lives of 14 well, this opportunity to inform the House that women at !'Ecole polytechnique in Montreal. On out of respect for and in remembrance of the December 6, 1989, 14 families lost a daughter, a women murdered in Montreal and women mur­ sister, a mother, or countless others lost friends. dered and brutalized in Manitoba, indeed across A savage act such as this reminds us that our nation, our Legislature flags fly at half mast. violence against women is a very real occurrence in our society. We have to reinforce the message I will now read the proclamation: that this type of abuse, whether it is physical, sexual or emotional, is unacceptable and cannot WHEREAS on December 6, 1989, 14 be tolerated. We must be prepared to take the women were murdered and 13 more injured at steps needed to stop abuse in whatever form it !'Ecole polytechnique in Montreal, victims of a may take and prevent violent acts such as this hate crime against women; and from ever taking place again. WHEREAS since then, Canadian women, When thinking of events of December 6, including Manitoba women, have observed what should remain in the forefront of all our December 6 as a Day of Remembrance in hon­ minds is the memory of the 14 women whose our of the women murdered in Montreal and of lives were lost. They were slain solely for the all Canadian women who are victims of fact that they were women. Such senselessness is violence; and the nature of abuse itself. There is no reason and, more importantly, no excuse for the actions of WHEREAS the Province of Manitoba is those who perpetrate such horrendous acts. committed to ending violence against women; and It is important to remember that, although the terrible events of December 6, 1989, were WHEREAS it is right and proper that attacks on women, abuse and violence affect Government firmly recognize December 6 as an everyone. Regardless of sex, age, ethnicity or official Day of Remembrance. religion, the problem of violence has an impact upon us all, and we must all contribute to the solution and stop abuse and violence in our Now, I, Diane McGifford, Minister respon­ society. sible for the Status of Women for the Province of Manitoba, proclaim December 6, 2001, be I would like to take this opportunity, designated as a Day of Remembrance in Mani­ Mr. Speaker, on behalf of all members on this toba, and I commend its observance to all our side of the House, to thank the staff of the citizens in our province.

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